James Anderson Wickets in International Cricket

Do you want to know how many James Anderson wickets there are in international cricket? Then you're in the right place because we bring you everything you are looking for about the England legend. James Anderson is one of the greatest bowlers of all time and has carved out a legacy of his own amidst criticism throughout his career. 

James Anderson was born in Burnley, Lancashire on July 30, 1982. Nearing his 41st birthday, the England pacer is still going strong and showing no signs of losing his touch. Anderson has aged like a wine and has won over even some of his critics in the last few years. 

James Anderson is one of the most skillful bowlers in the world. His ability to make the ball talk with swing and seam movement is pure artistry. 

The right arm seamer has played 392 matches for England in international cricket and has claimed 972 wickets. James Anderson is one of the best bowlers in the history of Test cricket and no pacer has more wickets than him. He has taken 685 wickets from 179 Tests at an average of 25.99. 

Anderson gave up limited overs cricket in a bid to prolong his Test career and because it was his weaker suit in an era where the two formats were changing drastically. He did play 194 ODI matches for England, picking 269 wickets at 29.22 runs per wicket. Anderson played 19 T20Is back in the day, bagging 18 wickets at 7.84 economy. 

Now that you're familiar with James Anderson wickets across three formats in international cricket, we will shed some light on his journey and his best performances in his career.

Read: Who will win Ashes 2023?

James Anderson Journey 

James Anderson made his international debut in 2002 at the age of 20 during the ODI tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka down under. His debut didn't go well but he delivered a couple of excellent spells in the series. 

Anderson made his Test debut at Lord's against Zimbabwe in May 2003. He picked a five-wicket haul, albeit it was expensive. Later in June, he took an ODI hat-trick against Pakistan at the oval. But then he had to face a few challenges and his career went nowhere. 

In an attempt to reduce chances of injuries, James Anderson changed his bowling action and that cost him pace and rhythm. He had a few lean years and it wasn't until 2007 that he truly cemented his place as a frontline bowler for England. 

James Anderson: Rise to the top 

In 2007-08, Anderson paired up with Stuart Broad for the first time at Wellington. A few weeks later, He ripped through the New Zealand batting line-up at Trent Bridge with 7 for 43. And he never looked back. 

James Anderson went from someone who would bowl unplayable deliveries amidst some loose stuff to being the master of line and length. He picked a career-best 11-wicket haul against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2010 and then produced an Ashes performance in Australia that enhanced his reputation. Anderson picked 24 wickets in five Tests at an average of 26.04 as England clinched the away Ashes by 3-1. 

READ: Eng vs Aus head-to-head record

In 2017, Jimmy Anderson became only the third seamer after Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh to reach the 500-wicket landmark in Test cricket. Soon he surpassed both the legends to become the seamer with most Test wickets. 

Anderson missed the 2019 Ashes after sustaining an injury four overs into his spell in the first Test at Edgbaston. It looked like his time was running out. But being the champion he is, Anderson worked on his fitness, managed his workload and continued to deliver impactful performances for England. 

Currently he's third on the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in the longer format behind only Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708). And if he can keep up, there's a chance he'll cross the late great Warne. 

Best performances: Test, ODI, T20I 

James Anderson is a master of craft and no one comes close to what he does with the red ball in hand. There's a countless number of James Anderson wickets that are absolute beauties and if you try to compile them, you'd run out of time. The 40yr old has taken an enormous 32 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket and has a long list of ridiculous spells that changed the matches. 

His career-best Test match performance came against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in the first Test of the 2010 series. England batted first and posted 354 runs on the back of Eoin Morgan's 130. Anderson then ran through the Pakistan batting unit with 5 for 54 as they bowled out the visitors for 182. England set a huge target of 435 and Pakistan had no answers to Anderson who was even more menacing in the second innings. He bowled 15 overs with eight maidens, conceded just 17 runs and claimed six wickets to dismantle the opponents for just 80. 

James Anderson sound warnings ahead of the #Ashes 🚨

More ➡ https://t.co/p2BVTT9qYw pic.twitter.com/rPkJNWy15F

— ICC (@ICC) May 20, 2023

James Anderson's best innings figures came in the series-deciding Lord's Test against West Indies in 2017. Ben Stokes bagged 6 for 22 in the first innings to bowl out the visitors for 123 but England could only manage 194. Anderson stepped up in the second innings, picking 7 for 42 in 20.1 overs. England skittled out West Indies for 177 and won the match by nine wickets. 

READ: David Warner centuries

James Anderson may have given up on the fifty-over format in 2015 but he had several memorable performances in his 194-game ODI career. His best came against South Africa at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth in 2009. He bowled three maidens in his full quota of 10 overs and claimed 5 for 23. England bowled out the hosts for 119 and won the match by seven wickets. The English pacer picked another five-for versus New Zealand at Napier, when he snared 5 for 34 on the 2013 tour. 

T20 was Anderson's weakest format and he only played 19 T20Is for England. His best match figures came against the Netherlands, picking 3 for 23 in four overs at Lord's in the 2009 T20 World Cup. 

James Anderson Wickets: Career Summary